Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-09
Revenue Reforrn-Letter from Hon
George D. Wise.

terfStS OF MS cOnstltucuts utW"nu ~ hf'
hands, and Is prepared TO do all that he can
20 relieve them from The burden OF Federal
taxation which now Weighs them down.
The New York dealers who held a meet
ing few days ago and demanded the aboii-
ton Of the tax upon tobacco well said that
that tax hampered business and prevented
competition. Another all-sufiicient reason
why It ought to be abolished Is because
the agitation OF the question Of repeal will
necessarily continue so long as The tax Is
continued, and will thus keep the trade In
tobacco In an unsettled and unsatisfactory
condition. Even II the manufacturers
offer to hold the buyers harmless. these
latter will nevertheless hesitate to purchase
whilst the market Is so seriously affected
by the prospect of congressional action.
still another reason for the abolition Of
the tax upon tobacco Is To be found in the
vexatious inQuisitoris, laws which prevent
the planter from selling his tobacco 10 any
person who may desire TO purchase it.
The assertion Of the whiskey-ring that to-
bacco is luxury should not deter any
congressman from voting to abolish the
entire tax upon tobacco. II tobacco Is o
luxury, 1t Is q universal luxury. and the
phrase "uniVersal luxury" we take to be
n contradiction in terms. Fine wines, dia-
moBds. silks, satins, French brandy, and
all other articles which are used only by
few persons are real luxuries; but surely
an article used by more than half OF the
male adults in the United States can
not properly be styled luxury.
II 1t is luxury 1t Is one that
ought 10 be untaxed. Many poor man
regards 1t as one Of the necessarles OF life.
We once heard hard working cO1l-miner
say that he would not quit the habit Of
chewing tobacco il he should be offered
hundred dollars to do so.
BY all means let the poor mans single
luxury, If luxury you '1iH call 1t, be per-
United to come into bis possession untaxed.
Let the tobacco-stamp tax be held TO be rs
odious as the one which played so impor-
tant part IN producing the Revolutionary
war:
HOUSE OF REPREsEN1ATIvEs,}
WASHINGTON, January I, 1887.
TO the Editor of the Dispatch:
| desire to give through your columns to
the people CT the Third congressional dis.
trict, whom have the honor TO represent
in the House OF Representatives OF the
Tssa wi
recently impelled me to vote for the con-
sideration OF measures Of revenue which
involve the income OF the Government. The
question OF The revision Of the tariff has for
several years engaged the attention OF the
people OF the country, and in my judgment
II Is OF the utmost importance that il should
receive congressional consideration.
IL is but necessary TO state that the motion
10 proceed TO consider was general one and
had no reference to or connection with the
merit Of any particular measure. Ii it had
prevailed majority OF the House would
have been able 10 give 10 its legislation any
shape which might have been deemed wise
est for the best interests OF the country.
Legislation is absolutely necessary. and that
as speedily as possible. This opinion Is
shared not merely by one faction nor by
one party, but, indeed, is the prevailing
sentiment OF all parties.
The Government is annually collecting
some one hundred and twenty-five millions
more than it eXpends. This surplus Is the
measure OF unnecessary taxation, from
which the people may and should be re-
lieved. II boarded the effect would be
equivalent TO an enormous contraction OF
the currency, from which in turn would
follow an artificial decline in all values, pa
ralysis Of business. and, finally, stopplge
Of the wheels OF industry.
The CONSEQUENCES OF boarding have thus
far been largely c0unterbaanced by the
purchase by the Government OF its own
securities. But we have gone about rs far
as we can in this direction, and It is neces.
sary that large dimnution OF our regular
revenues should be accomplished as soon as
possible. Failure to do this would, rs sug-
gCstCd, practically involve a large cODtrac-
ton Of the currency, or neceSsitate resort
to needless and corrupt expenditures to
avoid if. TO unlock the present surplus
and TO prevent the accumulation OF another
is the problem. The effect OF delay in Its
solution is TO produce a feeling Of uncer-
tainly III many lines Of business which may
be affected by the consequent legislation
possible or probable. Prompt action, there
fore, seems TO me to be necessary TO revive
trade and TO improve business.
Believing it TO be to your interest to reach
a result As soon as possible | voted for the
consideration OF revenue bills, and shall
continue to do so until the situation shall
have been improved. The proposition for
consideration OF measures OF TeVenuehaving
been defeated, Congress has thus far not
shared any legislation in connection with
this subject. | will not, therefore, speak
of any specific measure.
Generally, however, will say that when
this subject does receive consideration, |
shall not merely seek to reflect the dellb-
crate voice OF the people OF Virginia often
expressed in reference to it, because il is
my representative duty to do 81, but also
because that voice entirely harmonizes
with my own views. In accordance with
this idea ] shall favor the immediate re-
moyal Of the entire tObaCcO.taX and such
other internal.reyenue charges as can well
be dispensed with at this time, believing
that the settled policy OF acquiring the
revenues for the purposes OF Government
principally by tax on imports should be
adhered to. believe that reduction OF
the surplus should at least in part be thus
accomplished. The whole internal reve-
nue. system is Odious, onerOus, and
unequal in It's operation. 1t produces
monopolies and Is despotic and
mquisltOfial. Tobacco is the money
crop Of half the tllers OF the soil OF Vir-
ginia, and 10 tax it is TO tax them for not
only one, hut all the neceSsaries OF life, as
It affords the income with which 10 pur-
chase them for themselves and families. ]
know that ii is urged that the consumer
pays The tax. Whilst this is IN one sense
correct, still the tax affects largely the de-
mand for the manufactured product, and In
that way bears not only upon the raw sta
pie, but upon the labor employed in its
manufacture, and all else which Is an ele-
uent OF its price.
II the consumer does at last pay every
thing which enters into the market value
OF any manufactured article, stu that mar.
kct value is determined by the demand.
which is largely affected by It's taxation.
II is 4 mockery OF the tobacco interest 10
tell planters that they must submit to its
taxation in order to reduce taxation OF the
necessaries OF life. The pretended neces.
sity does not exist, for the lowering Of
duties toward the revenue standard would
Increase the income OF the Government
instead OF reducing II, as the pFeteuce OF
justification for continuance OF this lax inn
plies.
In the revision OF the fiscal system OF the
Government, which seems TO be demlnded
by the industrial interests OF the country
and tie neces sites OF business. the distinct
assurance repeatedly given TO the people OF